The FDA didn't think twice before approving Oxycontin as a 12-hour drug. They didn't think twice about allowing preteens access to the drug that is colloquially known as "redneck heroin." They are, however, very concerned about the use of a plant that is related to coffee. Kratom is related to coffee, but as far as can be seen, it's safety profile is much more favorable even than caffeine. <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/11703-DEA-Spreads-Disinfo-Regarding-Kratom">Despite being defended by doctors, pharmacologists and clinical researchers,</a> kratom has been under attack for years now. What is most frustrating is how baseless most of the claims being made are. Regardless how many times a factual error is debunked, like a bad penny, it is bound to show back up again.

According to Reuters, The FDA said it was aware of 36 deaths associated with kratom. Now, if you've been keeping up, you'd know that two recent deaths attributed to kratom were debunked by experts in forensic toxicology. In addition, the 36 number is inflated from the claim of "15 deaths" that the DEA offered up in the NY Post article. At present, there are no known deaths which are solely attributable or even causally linked to kratom ingestion. "Fake news" about kratom has, however, been on the rise. Just last month, <a href="http://www.kratomcare.com/kratom-blog/press-release-aka/">a coroner claimed "17 deaths"</a> in Georgia alone last year from kratom.

The FDA is owed an 8-factor analysis on the potentially addictive nature of kratom. Before they had a chance to, however, Johns Hopkins University professor and renowned addiction authority, Dr. Jack Henningfield, has placed the likelihood of kratom as a drug of abuse in a category similar to nutmeg or St. John's Wort.

“At a time when we have hit a critical point in the opioid epidemic, the increasing use of kratom as an alternative or adjunct to opioid use is extremely concerning,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said.

There are thousands of people who are currently using kratom to replace their pain medications and thousands more who have used it successfully to wean off illicit opiates or opioids. Mr. Gottlieb is correct, we are in the midst of an epidemic. If a certain plant has resulted in thousands of successes and no deaths, why is it being repeatedly demonized?

According to the Reuters write-up, the DEA said last year "roughly 30 deaths have been reported since 2009, with most occurring since 2014." As mentioned before, addiction researcher Dr. Jack Henningfield of Johns Hopkins University and forensic toxicology experts <a href="https://www.inquisitr.com/4617297/ny-post-spreads-dea-disinfo-regarding-kratom/">Dr. Jane C. Babin and Dr. Karl Ebner have thoroughly debunked the claim</a> of "15 deaths." 9 of the 15 figure were found to be attributed to a research chemical that was used to adulterate a kratom product in Sweden. In the other six cases contraindicated drug combinations or other dangerous drugs such as morphine, benzodiazepines and an over-the-counter substance similar to amphetamines were also present in the bodies of dead "attributed to kratom."

Deaths from opiates and opioids topped 33,000 last year. Meanwhile, we have this plant that is the subject of dozens of clinical and laboratory trials showing it to be <a href="http://topshelfkratom.com/the-current-state-of-kratom-research/">immunostimulant, antioxidant and a possible therapy for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, fibromyalgia</a> as well as an aid to those attempting to wean off addiction. So, on the one hand, we have something we KNOW to be so deadly as to be classified a "public health emergency." On the other hand, we have a plant with multiple health benefits that (unlike, say caffeine) has not one death that can be causally linked to its use.

Forbes, Scientific American, NY Times, Atlantic and others have spoken glowingly of the potentials of this plant-based medicine. It's been studied by scientists all over the globe. Hundreds of laboratory trials and clinical tests suggest it appears to be safe and effective. Then there's the fact that it has been used safely for hundreds of years in its native Southeast Asia. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta even went so far as to say kratom could be an answer to the opiate crisis. So what's to do? You miss all the shots you don't take.